To date more than 1.3 million Smart cars have left the French assembly plant.
Daimler AG started production today of the new Smart ForTwo electric vehicle built at the Hambach, France plant. An investment of €200 million was required to integrate the tiny EV into the production processes of the plant, which also builds gasoline versions.
Delivery in Germany starts in late summer; other markets – a total of more than 30 – will follow successively for the EV. Prices in Germany including 19% VAT start at €18,910 ($23,640) for the coupe and €22,000 for the convertible, plus €65 per month to rent the battery. Purchased without the battery, the coupe Smart EV is €23,680 or €26,770 for the convertible.
With its 55kW electric motor, the Smart EV accelerates from 0 – 60 km/h in 4.8 seconds, with a maximum speed of 125 km/h. The 17.6 kWh battery allows what is called an urban two-seater to travel approximately 145 kilometers in city traffic. The Smart is the product of several joint ventures including German companies Bosch (EM-motive) and Evonik (Deutsche ACCUmotive) and in what is perhaps swipe at the Opel Antera derived from the Chevrolet Volt, Daimler calls the EV the “first true European electric car.”
The Smart plant in Hambach was inaugurated in 1997 and has produced the ForTwo since 1998 – in its second generation since 2007. In 2011, more than 103,000 vehicles rolled off the production line. About 1,500 people work at the site – 800 employees at the plant itself and a further 700 at the seven local system partners. The one millionth ForTwo was built in September 2008, coinciding with the tenth birthday of the brand. To date more than 1.3 million vehicles have left the plant.
See also:
- Mercedes-Benz Posts Global Sales Record in May
- Smart Escooter Coming in 2014
- Mercedes-Benz Wants Smart Distribution Back from Penske
- Smart USA Delivers First ForTwo Electric Vehicle
